Synthesis of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) modified Pluronic P123 copolymers for pH-stimulated release of doxorubicin

Pluronic P123 was chain-extended at their terminal groups using atom transfer radical polymerization to form poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) tails and obtain the PAA-b-P123-b-PAA (P123-PAA) copolymer. The incorporation of PAA had the effect of increasing the carrier's drug loading capacity of an anti-cancer drug, Doxorubicin (DOX), and also allowed for pH-controlled release of the drug. Drug release assays showed that up to 60% of DOX cargo could be retained in the DOX/P123-PAA complex for 3 days at normal physiological pH (7.4). This was then followed by a secondary burst release of DOX when the environment became more acidic (pH 5). Therefore, it was possible that the more acidic physiological environment of tumor sites could be used to trigger an accelerated release of DOX from the drug carriers. The material was demonstrated for potential application in the delivery of cationic drugs for cancer treatment.